The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-07-27
WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER.
An Express Train Pioushs In Gang
of italian Laborers With Terri
bic Results.


HoHoKus, y. j., July 21.-As us O'Clock
this morning horrible accident occurred on
the Erie Railroad at point aoout a third OF
mile above here. resulting in the killing OF
II men and serious injury OF five Others. A
gang of ~ Italian laborers were at work
blasting the tracks when they noticed the
milk train coming up the road from Hoiio-
kus They Immediately stepped over to the
down track. but in their hurry failed to no.
;ioe the Chicago express bearing down upon
them. Before anyone knew exactly what
was happening the express had ploughed
into their midst, knocking The unfortunates
right and left, killing 10 of the number out
right and wounding six others, one 50 badly
that he died before he reached Patterson,
whittier. the wounded, were carried as soon
as accommodation could be secured TO con-
vey them. The express was unable TO come
to a stop until IL reached the Hohokus sta
ton. where it was found thai the cow catch
er and step Of the engine acre broken, bat
no other damage was done. Investigation
shows that the train hands were entirely
blameless.
The wounded were not removed until half
an hour later. when q construction tain took
them 10 Patterson All the station bands
who were available. as well a. some residents
in the vicinity, hasiened 10 the scene where
the comrades Of the dead and injured men
were already administering TO the wants of
those who were no, past need. Most of the
unfortunaies had been hurled down the en-
bankment Of the track. while some were ly-
ing around between the rails horribly mutt
lated. Hats. coats and shoes. which had
been torn from the victims, were scattered
about. and in some places there were little
pools Of blood, pieces Of human bones, and
ragged strips of flesh. Some had their legs
torn of Others were lying with hideous
gashes in their heads, and some were 50 hor-
ribly mangled a to be unrecognizeable.
The killed were Giuseppe Toario, Rimal-
do. Geneive, Gallo Pisagreie, Dominica
Stampro, Donodo Damporosa, Pasnagle Di-
biano, Michael Tobio, two men named Dom
inico saldonella and one whose name is un-
known One man with his shoulder frac-
tured was found sitting under a bridge, $50
Yards from where he was struck, where he
had been carried by the engine. He was
taken. with the other five wounded, TO the
Patterson Hospital.
The railroad men have different opinions
as to who is to blame for the accident. Some
censure Connolly, foreman of the gang, but he
was around the curve at the tool box, and
was unable to see the train. His assistant
was with the gang, and some regard him as
responsible, but he explains that the sudden
no.ss Of the arrival OF the trains put all pre-
cautions al naught, as there was no time 10
warn the men, and his voice could not have
been heard above the noise created by the
milk train. Moreover, the Chicago express
was not on time, and he had no way of
knowing of its proximity. The men were
probably a. much to blame as anybody
They are insufFerably stupid at times, and
have to be pulleiout ofthe way of approach
ing trains. All the dead men were mar
ried
The engineer of the express in statement
made when he reached Jersey City, said th at
before he reached the curve he blew a warn
ing whistle not knowing, however, that any
people were on the track The moment his
train had turned the curve he saw the ital-
ians huddled like lot Of sheep on the very
track his engine was On. They had got over
there 10 avoid train coming from New York
CITY. and had their backs turned TO the ex-
press He tried hard 10 stop hi train but no
human power could have done 30 in time TO
avoid killing the men. The engine. he said,
moved them down as a scythe cuts grass.
and their mangied bodies we're thrown ia all
din,ctious The conductor did not know
what had happened until the train slowed
up. Passengers on following trains counted
fifteen bodiss. The company viii make rig-
IA examination.
Conductor Baml-ra. who was on the es,n-
siruoiian train leliind iheexpne-s. s,at,- that
DE- never saw - horrible a scene. one un-
Fortunate whose brains were scattered Cor -
yar.is along the track. jumped up threc times
after be was thruwn aside BY che cgweatch-
sl aioiher man. whom De- went 10 in mp
by t'ic hand Ui,ilc be- was ysi queTinz. caught
hi. uri.i in o1nvu-i-iye dsafh srip from
uhici. he Was with difficulty relea-ed. He
,an many similar o4-e- and d-srrbcs the
,hr.at. ami sroans 81 the wounded and dy-
"a. -imeihius awful